The visit of Mahamat Idriss Deby, the transitional president of the Republic of Chad, to Moscow was described as “historic” during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.
Before the discussions took place, Deby and a delegation from Chad paid their respects by laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the heart of the Russian capital.
Deby emphasized the longstanding relationship between Chad and Russia, highlighting that the last visit by a Chadian president was in 1968.
During their meeting, Putin announced plans to enhance cooperation between the two countries, expressing his optimism that a comprehensive set of documents will be prepared to strengthen and expand their legal and contractual foundation in the near future.
Putin also emphasized that the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be observed in 2024.
He highlighted Russia’s commitment to providing support within the United Nations, particularly in the humanitarian sphere, and assured that Moscow will continue its efforts in this area.
Additionally, Putin mentioned that the quota for Chadian students studying in Russia has been doubled, with the possibility of further doubling it in the next two years.
He expressed his optimism for the upcoming general elections in Chad, hoping that they will be conducted at a high level, and assured that Russia will make every effort to support N’Djamena.
In October 2022, following the assassination of his father by rebels in April 2021, Deby was appointed as the head of a military leadership in Chad. The authorities and opposition have agreed to extend the transition period until 2024.
Furthermore, a referendum held in December resulted in the adoption of the Chadian Constitution, which allows Deby to run for president.
The government commission responsible for organizing the referendum reported an approval rate of 86% among voters.
